ART Lines

what equipment is needed for an ART line

ART line kit, pressure bag, 500ml saline, monitoring line

where does the transducer sit

phlebostatic axis

how do you zero an ART line

off to patient, open to air → take bung off → zero on monitor → wait till x2 beeps are heard → bung on → off to air, open to patient

what is a fast flush test

quick flush of the ART line to test damping

*squaring of waveform

what kind of daming

normal, optimal

*1 oscillation prior to returning to baseline

what kind of damping

underdamped

*2 or more oscillations prior to returning to baseline

what kind of damping

overdamped

*slow response speed, no oscillations

what causes overdamping

any obstruction

air bubbles, clots, kinks in line, low pressure in bag, loose connections, catheter tip malposition

what causes underdamping

long extension tubes, elevated HR, stiff tubing, catheter movement, faulty lines, high cardiac output

how do you take an ABG sample from an ART line

attach discard syringe → off to machine, open to air → collect discard blood → attach ABG syringe to collect sample → off to patient, open to air → flush bung → new red bung on → off to air, open to patient → flush rest of fine